10 Booking Mistakes WWE Has Made in 2018

In what has been a pretty bumpy ride, WWE has managed to hold on to its fan base but continues to be at a bigger disadvantage when it comes to telling compelling stories.

There's no denying that the company is enjoying extending their reach to different international platforms. However, WWE's way of advancing feuds have been pretty predictable and wacky, at times.

Considering that we are just two months away from 2019, the company have had more downs than ups this year with many feuds failing to deliver any sort of anticipation among the fans.

Since the Road to WrestleMania is preferred as a more exciting time for a WWE fan, certain elements of that anticipation and intrigue can be added inequitable fashion throughout the year to maintain continuity and momentum.

So, without further ado, let's dive deep and analyze the 10 biggest mistakes WWE have already made in 2018.

#1 Asuka losing at WrestleMania 34 and going absolutely nowhere after it

Charlotte's epic battle with Asuka for the SmackDown Women's Champion at WrestleMania 34 was hyped as one of the most engaging encounters at the Super Dome.

While the bout delivered on all aspects, the entire world was shocked at how the match ended with Asuka tapping out to the Queen, resulting in the end of her undefeated streak.

Considering that the Empress of Tomorrow came to the main roster after establishing her name as the last of her kind in the women's division, WWE completely ruined the entire moment by that stupid outcome.

With Charlotte already garnering so many opportunities, it would have been special if WWE would have passed the torch to Asuka and turn her into one of the greatest competitors in the entire women's division.

Since the fans accepted the loss, how WWE booked the former NXT Women's Champion post-WrestleMania 34 was one of the biggest blunders of the year.

#2 Completely demolishing the 'Rusev Day' momentum

While SmackDown Live is widely regarded as the 'land of opportunity', WWE's negligence of Rusev's momentum is easily one of the most disappointing aspects of 2018.

As great the Bulgarian Brute truly is between the ropes, he instantly became popular with the Rusev Day moniker that led legions of WWE fans to support him.

Considering that Aiden English's bond with Rusev played an influential role in elevating the entire gimmick, the company never completely understood what they could have achieved with his momentum.

Catapulting a star who's organically loved could have turned the former U.S. Champion into one of the biggest things in all the WWE today.

However, the creative team disrupted the entire moniker and dropped the ball with him several times to let the world know that his day might never come.

#3 Not giving any significant attention to Finn Balor or Bobby Roode on Monday Night Raw

If you're a hardcore fan of professional wrestling and have enough adulation for independent performers, then you'll be certainly disappointed with how WWE have treated Finn Balor and Bobby Roode.

Both the performers made a successful transition from NXT to the main roster but have failed to grab the brass ring under Vince McMahon's radar.

While Balor still remains an integral member of the flagship show, the Glorious One has completely failed on multiple departments where it has become impossible to rejuvenate him now.

Judging by the current feuds that are being booked, there's no way these two wrestling sensations would ever be pushed on Monday Night Raw in 2018.

The Road to WrestleMania might coerce the creative team to engage them in some meaningful feuds but until then, they will be random performers on the show.

#4 Ruining Shawn Michaels' entire legacy with a predictable comeback

There's no denying that Shawn Michaels is one of the greatest and versatile competitors to ever step foot inside the squared circle.

HBK's career ended in splendid fashion at WrestleMania 26 when he failed to defeat the Undertaker for the second time in a row at the Show of Shows.

Considering that he kept his promise and never returned back, the fans always respected him for his willingness to respect the system and catapult his legacy more than personal motives.

However, WWE's current aim to expand their platforms worldwide has opened the door for another HBK return and this time it's confirmed.

Since the Show Stopper carried such a magnetic aura, returning back in such predictable fashion completely diminished his unforgiving loss at WrestleMania 26.

While he will still remain the greatest wrestler that ever lived, this return won't do any justice to his previous accomplishments and might coerce him to work more dates.

#5 Not pushing the envelope with a 'Sasha Banks Vs. Bayley' feud

In what was one of the most significant rivalries that solidified NXT's position on the world map, Sasha Banks and Bayley have been booked very badly on the main roster.

The creative team constantly brings them together in some capacity, teases a huge heel turn and then gets back to the same best friend moniker that we have been seeing for a long, long time.

Considering that they told a riveting tale under Triple H's wing, many fans expected WWE to enhance the story by booking them for a WrestleMania showdown in 2018.

While the company did tease us with turns and twists, both the talented performers ended up hugging out and forming a tag-team that went absolutely nowhere.

Since both the superstars are not even scheduled for any match at WWE Evolution, it goes on to show that both these performers have been completely ruined on the main roster.

#6 Not going the distance with The Kevin Owens 'I Quit' Angle

Widely regarded as one of the greatest heels in the company today, Kevin Owens has earned the respect of his peers and the fans by constantly outshining himself within the squared circle.

Considering that he is undoubtedly the most valuable performer in the entire company, WWE must have elevated Owens in all departments necessary.

While he became stale after being buried by Braun Strowman, his 'I Quit' angle definitely engaged legions of WWE fans on what's about to come.

The angle received a lot of critical reception, with many critics believing that Owens might return back as a Paul Heyman Guy, and while that might have been discussed, the company ruined the entire angle next week.

Owens returned to Monday Night Raw by attacking Bobby Lashley and coercing the fans to believe that the latter was a significant reason for his apparent exit from the company.

A storyline that could have propelled Owens to unimaginable heights ended up being one of the worst things that ever happened on WWE's flagship show.

#7 Not letting Shinsuke Nakamura or Samoa Joe win the WWE Championship

Despite gravitating so much attention for their unique personalities, Samoa Joe and Shinsuke Nakamura have failed to make an impression on the main roster.

While the King of Strong Style's accomplishments have been pretty reasonable, the Destroyer has been completely ruined by the entire creative process.

Both the superstars had their fair share of success in NXT but have not managed to hold any significant main-event championship on the main roster.

With A.J. Styles' still carrying the most coveted prize in sports entertainment, defeating both Joe and Nakamura was probably WWE's way of telling that they may never be world champions here.

#8 Not turning Dean Ambrose heel instantly after his return

Ever since Dean Ambrose got injured, legions of WWE fans started anticipating how the company will book the Lunatic Fringe when he returns back to action.

With many fans expecting a huge heel turn, Ambrose returned back with a lot of promise and engaged the audience with a completely different look.

Considering that he shared such a personal rivalry with Seth Rollins, many believed that he might shock the entire world by instantly imploding the Hounds of Justice.

However, nothing of such sort happened. The Lunatic Fringe carried the same moniker and joined the Shield again only to diminish the faction's entire credibility.

Judging by how WWE has booked the Shield, constantly focusing on Ambrose's heel turn has certainly ruined all the anticipation of his eventual transformation, and it's sickening now.

#9 Not pushing Seth Rollins to win the Universal Championship

Is he the most talented performer in the WWE today?

There's no denying that Seth Rollins is the most talented performer in the entire WWE and gravitates tremendous attention from fans and critics alike.

While he has been quite impressive bolstering the entire mid-card scene on Raw, we all know that the Architect deserves the main-event spotlight.

Considering that he's been so phenomenal throughout the entire year, he stood up as a credible challenger to dethrone Brock Lesnar's Universal Championship.

However, the constant Roman Reigns push diminished the entire possibility of Rollins even getting any significant chance to headline any pay-per-view.

With all that surrounds the Architect today, it seems unlikely that he will get his hands on the Universal Championship anytime soon on Monday Night Raw.

#10 Not turning Roman Reigns into a Paul Heyman Guy

If you're busy analyzing the biggest blunders committed by the WWE in 2018, Roman Reigns not becoming a Paul Heyman Guy would end up taking the entire cake.

Considering how his feud with Brock Lesnar was booked, many fans were disappointed with the Big Dog continuing to push himself as a victim on a weekly basis.

With fans vehemently degrading the Roman Reigns agenda, Paul Heyman's inclusion in his push could have rejuvenated the entire Monday Night Raw and saved Roman's career.

However, ruining a golden opportunity between the two became one of the biggest mistakes that WWE made the entire year and might not be replaced anytime soon.

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Edited by Nishant Jayaram